I recently had the pleasure of seeing the Dalai Lama in person, along with Richard Gere and Alice Walker at Emory University. You can read about it here.His Holiness has been named a Presidential Distinguished Professor by the University, and lucky for us in Georgia, he has taken it very seriously. In fact, Emory has been reaching out to the Tibetan monks for some time now creating collaborative studies between religion and science. We're spotting their tell-tale robes around town more and more as a result.
With this as a backdrop, I was recently sent a new graphic novel - a manga biography created by Tetsu Saiwai for Penguin Books called THE 14TH DALAI LAMA.
It's the story of the Dalai Lama's incredible life journey through illustrations. And even though the Dalai Lama has been surrounded by violence for much of his life, the book handles it with sensitivity. Although I do wish it had focused more on the amazing things His Holiness has actually done rather than simply focus on what was happening around him and how he escaped it all - I still learned much from this book.
In fact, the author/illustrator, Tetsu Saiwai, has done a number of educational biographical mangas over his 20-year career. He lives in western Japan, so sadly, I was not able to do my preferred interview for this book. However, I love that manga can handle non-fiction in this way, making history more accessible to readers who tend to absorb information better in an illustrated format. (Great for reluctant readers!)
Seeing His Holiness in person was awe-inspiring. With all he's been through, all the war and injustice he's had to experience, he still smiles quickly, laughs easily, and is downright charming. It's amazing that his attitude and world view remains so peaceful and incredibly positive.
With that in mind, and thanks to a Penguin Books publicist, I have TWO free copies of THE 14TH DALAI LAMA to give away in a... peaceful manner. (Especially appropriate as we head towards this day of thanks.) Leave a comment below about or for peace. It can be a quote, a thought, a sentiment, whatever you like. That's all you need to do to enter the drawing. I'll randomly choose a winner on the last day of November, announcing the winner on December 1st. So get your comments in!
“If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.”
ReplyDeleteTenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama quotes (Dalai Lama, b.1935)
Peace to you, Dulemba.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to have discovered your blog!
"Auch zu lieben ist gut: denn Liebe ist schwer. Liebhaben von Mensch zu Mensch: das ist vielleicht das Schwerste, was uns aufgegeben ist, das Äußerste, die letzte Probe und Prüfung, die Arbeit, für die alle andere Arbeit nur Vorbereitung i...st. Darum können junge Menschen, die Anfänger in allem sind, die Liebe noch nicht: sie müssen sie lernen. Mit dem ganzen Wesen, mit allen Kräften, versammelt um ihr einsames, banges, aufwärts schlagendes Herz, müssen sie lieben lernen." - rilke, from "letters to a young poet", letter seven. (letters he actually sent to a young man.) translation: "It is also good to love: because love is difficult. For one human being to love another human being: that is perhaps the most difficult task that has been entrusted to us, the ultimate task, the final test and proof, the work for which all other work is merely preparation. That is why young people, who are beginners in everything, are not yet capable of love: it is something they must learn. With their whole being, with all their forces, gathered around their solitary, anxious, upward-beating heart, they must learn to love."
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ReplyDeletePeace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.
ReplyDelete~Ralph Waldo Emerson ...
I would also add education, as it leads us in understanding the path to finding peace.
Y'all's comments are Great! Anonymous - leave your name so I can get in touch if I draw your post as a book winner!
ReplyDeleteLinda - I'm glad you discovered my blog too!
Peace to all!
:)
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It isn't enough to talk about peace, one must believe it.
ReplyDeleteAnd it isn't enough to to believe in it, one must work for it.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
I love this saying by Mrs Roosevelt. Peace starts in the home and ripples out into the community and the world.
Lauren and Linda - per the random number generator, you've both won the free copies of The 14th Dalai Lama! Congratulations!
ReplyDelete:)
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